Fire guts S.F. school district offices

San francisco

###Live Caption:A San Francisco Fire Department arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that damaged much of the San Francisco Public School District Administration Building on Thursday May 15, 2008 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo by Lance Iversen / San Francisco Chronicle.###Caption History:San Francisco Fire Department Arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that hallowed out much of San Francisco Public School District Administration Building. Thursday May 15, 2008. Photographed at the Corner of Van Ness and Hayes.
Photographed in San Francisco, Calif, By Lance Iversen / San Francisco Chronicle.###Notes:Lance Iversen 415-2979395
CQ###Special Instructions:MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTOG AND SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. less

###Live Caption:A San Francisco Fire Department arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that damaged much of the San Francisco Public School ... more

Photo: LANCE IVERSEN

Photo: LANCE IVERSEN

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###Live Caption:A San Francisco Fire Department arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that damaged much of the San Francisco Public School District Administration Building on Thursday May 15, 2008 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo by Lance Iversen / San Francisco Chronicle.###Caption History:San Francisco Fire Department Arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that hallowed out much of San Francisco Public School District Administration Building. Thursday May 15, 2008. Photographed at the Corner of Van Ness and Hayes.
Photographed in San Francisco, Calif, By Lance Iversen / San Francisco Chronicle.###Notes:Lance Iversen 415-2979395
CQ###Special Instructions:MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTOG AND SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. less

###Live Caption:A San Francisco Fire Department arson investigation team goes through the ruins on the first floor of the three story fire at 135 Van Ness that damaged much of the San Francisco Public School ... more

Photo: LANCE IVERSEN

Fire guts S.F. school district offices

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A fire destroyed several offices at the San Francisco Unified School District administration building early Thursday, forcing employees to leave for at least a day.

More than 60 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze at 135 Van Ness Ave. about 1:50 a.m. and had it under control within 30 minutes.

Offices at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and Hayes Street were gutted. Soot and smoke permeated much of the three-story building, and 160 workers were told to stay away until testing on air quality is complete, district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said.

The fire caused an estimated $400,000 in damage. The cause is under investigation.

The building, the former Commerce High School, houses offices for the district's facilities and real estate departments. The building is considered structurally unsound; warnings are posted on the outer walls declaring it unsafe in the event of an earthquake.

The structure, built in 1926, has long been considered as a home for a new School of the Arts, but that would require an estimated $180 million to retrofit and upgrade.